This fanfiction on Velvet's human life would not have been here (or been readable) if it wasn't for NoFacesOnlyMasks. I totally owe him for his positive feedback on my idea, since I felt verry uncertain about this story. Also ofcourse for the endless amount of betaing I've put him through, since my grammar sucks.

As for you dear reader, I hope you will enjoy my thought's on Velvet's past, as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Star Lake

Dust drifted in the air, lit by the streetlights that shone dimly through large windows of the ballet studio. The room was large, with mirrored walls on the left and far side of the room. The floor was made of a light colored wood and the air always smelled like tulle, tights, sheep wool and healthy young boys and girls. Even now I could smell it, even though I was alone.

I straightened my back, closed my eyes, and imagined the music of the Swan Lake. Slowly at first, the violins come up. En pointe, arms wide. And then it took over. Even without the pull of actual music. The thought, the essence, was enough to pull me away, pull me out of my head; Out of my body even. As though in a trance my body moved easily, gracefully over the floor. The movements were so deep in the core of my being I didn't even need to think of what came next. It happened; it flowed out of me, before I even realized what I was doing. I spun in my pirouette around and around and around. The world was spinning in my vision.

A sound pulls me out of my trance, and I feel my ankle lose balance just a notch. My foot turns over awkwardly to the side. I trip and hiss in pain."Oh sorry." I hear Meredith say from behind me.

I bite my lip, bringing my hand to my ankle, trying to get a feel for how bad the damage is. It's not bad- it hurts, but I had danced with worse damage to my ankle. I hear her walk towards me and I look over my shoulder to find her. She was in her white nightgown, her heart shaped face was almost as pale as the white fabric in the cold, dim, light that was cast through the windows of the dance room. She moved ever so gracefully as she walked over to me and kneeled down. Her brown, wavy, hair falling down her shoulders. Her chocolate colored eyes looking with concern into mine. "Let me see." She says, so gently she almost whispers.

I shrug. "It's okay, it's nothing really-" But her hands are already on the ribbons of my pink pointe shoes as she brings herself to sit on the ground in front of me. I swallow as I feel how her slender fingers gently loosen the ribbons. "Really it's nothing Meredith." I try again but she continues, sliding her cool hand down and slipping off the toe shoe.

She places it to the side and brings her attention to my ankle, hands softly massaging the bruised muscle. "You poor sheep," she murmurs under her breath; poor sheep is a strange nickname she uses for me sometimes. She looks up at me again, gentleness as well as a slight discontent readable in her features. "You shouldn't work yourself this hard you know." Her cool hands are still gently rubbing my ankle. "You're a great dancer, you shouldn't keep pushing yourself over the limit all the time." She's the one who doesn't need the training. I've seen how the teachers look at her with such pride in their eyes. If I even want to stand a chance against her, I can't miss a single second of practice.

I pull my foot back to me at her words, grab my toe shoe, and get up. "My ankle's fine Meredith. You shouldn't overreact like that." As soon as the words leave my lips guilt flushes over me. I sigh, my shoulders slumping down, so un-ballerina like.

I see her in my peripheral vision, still on the ground staring at the floor. I just know she's trying to think of something to say. But what could she say. 'Sorry for being incredibly talented? Sorry that I'll get the role of Odette?' No there was nothing she could say. After all, it was me who was the problem- not her, of course not her. She was way too sweet and loving to ever even understand what jealousy was.

"So… why'd you come here?" I ask, turning my head to look at her.

She looks up and shrugs. "Looking for you. You weren't in our room yet- doesn't take much guessing to know where you're at when you're out this late." I smile at her, trying to get the awkwardness out of the air. "You know me too well." She grins glad to see I'm not angry with her. "Will you please come back? You need your rest."She gets up and offers me her hand. "Besides, you should at least give your ankle a night's rest right now." I roll my eyes at her but put my hand in hers nonetheless.

The Royal Ballet School is an old beautiful building, with high ceilings and a stone floor. Her footsteps echo- mine are silent since I'm still wearing my toe shoes. Our hands are entwined as we make our way to our dorm room. I suppress a small smile as I think of how effortless our friendship is again. It is like it used to be, like it's supposed to be, like it will truly always be. It's hard right now for me to even acknowledge the fact that moments ago I felt such envy towards her. How could I- we were so much more than that. That strain didn't belong to us, shouldn't belong to me- to think of her that way. She was perfect, so completely and utterly perfect to me. Gratefulness for our friendship should be all that fills me when I think of her- nothing else.

Our dorm room is small; the door is on the left, and on the right from it is a small desk and our closet. The heads of our beds, one on the left and one on the right wall. In the middle of the far wall is a window that we throw open during summer and spring. As we reach our dorm room exhaustion falls over me like a blanket all of a sudden so I just slip into my nightgown and into my bed. She walks over to me and crawls in next to me, leaving her bed untouched. She stretches and curls up behind me. I yawn and feel her lips turn into a grin against the fabric of my nightgown that clutches to my back. "I knew you were tired as hell." I just shrug, too tired to argue with her, my eyelids so heavy they close without my consent. Before I have a chance to think of my day my world is already black.

I wake up with Meredith's arms entangled around me, her skin warm and sticky against mine. I open my eyes, eyelids fluttering against the bright morning light. It takes a while before my eyes can manage to glance at the clock at my nightstand. It shows it's six o'clock. I sigh at this- it will stay silent for another half hour, but I just know sleep won't find me again, tired as I am. I gently push up her arm and place it on her side. I sit up slowly, not wanting to wake her up, and place my feet on the carpet. I look back at her; her brown hair is plastered on her heart shaped face. Her breaths are slow and calm as they pass through her slightly parted lips. Her chest, covered by her white nightgown, rises and falls as she breathes. Her figure is so slender, almost childlike, a type of figure most of us have here in the ballet academy. But especially now, when she lies there sleeping, she looks like a child- not a young woman or teenager. Just a child, innocent and almost sexless even, her long hair betraying the girl she is. I sit there like that, watching her sleep for a moment, till I get up and rub the sand from my eyes, walk over to my closet and put on my uniform. Grey skirt white blouse and dark blue blazer... the same as always, except when I'm dancing. But I have English, math, and history today before I get to dance.

Once dressed, I pull back my red hair in a bun as usual. The mirror in the closet door offers me my reflection. A young woman looks back at me. Bright grey eyes stare back at me. I suppose the girl in the mirror is pretty, sort of. She clings between a slender girl and an actual ballerina figure. Slender, not slender enough though, she really should lose some pounds. She's too curvy and her hair is too bright to be a ballerina anyway. Not brown or dark blond or even black. But fire, almost blood red. Even in a bun it attracts attention. No, the girl in the mirror is not a ballerina, just a weak excuse for one.

'Trrrrrriiing!'

The alarm clock pulls me out of my thoughts. I look over to find Meredith's hand hitting the nightstand in hopes of finding the alarm clock and turning it off. She reaches it and smacks it out, before grunting and rolling over to her back. Her dark chocolate hair plastered to her face, she sighs something about pirate bunnies.

I can't help the chuckle that escapes my throat, which slowly turns into a laugh. Her eyes flutter open and she pulls her head up and looks at me, disorientated and confused. I grin at her. "Morning Mer." She just moans in response, and drops her head back into her pillow, as if it is way too much weight for her to bear, and closes her eyes again. I roll my eyes, but still a smile plays my lips as I walk over to her. I sit down on the edge of my bed and slip my hands under the covers until they find her body. I run my hand up to her stomach and her eyes flutter open. I gently press my fingers into her sides and she screams out a weird laugh like sound, her body spasming in reaction to my tickling.

"S-stooo- s-stop!" She says, her arms flapping about trying to get me to stop. Her hands find my arms and she pulls my hands away from her belly. She gasps for breath, and as she looks at me her eyes are now wide awake and a smile is on her face. I look back at her, into her eyes- and for a second the air between us seems strange, thick and tight somehow. But then she laughs and the moment disappears as if it never was.

"You better get up and get ready sleepyhead- our little prodigy can't be late for class, now can she?" I say as I stand up and straighten my blazer. She obeys, and once dressed we head out to the cafeteria.

Classes dragged on slowly and even lunch seemed dull. It wasn't until ballet class that I enjoyed myself. Being able to practice, to learn, was all that I cared for right now. Only two days from now till the auditions for Swan Lake, and I simply need Odette's role with every fiber of my being. For months I had slaved myself, practicing every day after class. Even thinking of how much I had been practicing lately made my head spin. Everything besides dancing seemed like a waste of time to me, and now with auditions coming so close the anticipation was killing me.

A ballet group was being formed by a group all the way from America and if I was able to get in, I'd travel to America and become a professional ballerina. No more classes even if it was just half a year until my graduation. If things went through, I wouldn't need to graduate. Getting into this ballet group would mean I'd truly be a ballerina.

By the end of the day, I found myself in the common area of the girl's dorm. I was sitting on the sofa listening to the news on the radio, which talked about India and how they were busying themselves about getting their new constitution. Honestly, I couldn't care less about the news right now- all that occupied my mind was ballet, ballet, ballet, ballet. My thoughts of ballet however abruptly end when two hands slide over my eyes. I grin. "Honestly Meredith do you really think it could be anyone else but you doing this."

Her hands drop down and she walks over to the front side of the couch. "Gee you're not a lot of fun today, now are you?" She says, putting her hands on her hips and giving me a disapproving look. "Well, if you're no fun I guess you don't want to have your gift either."

I tilt my head to side. "What are you talking about?"

She grins and offers her hand. "Why don't you come with me and find out?" She says, offering her hand. Unable to withstand this mystery, I take her up on her offer and take her hand.

She had leads me back to our dorm room, and as soon as I close the door behind me she turns on the balls of her feet and smiles at me with enthusiasm and a glimpse of evil in her eyes. "What?" I ask her awkwardly.

"Tonight, we're going to Club Eleven." I frown. Why would we go out? The auditions were on Monday, and besides that we never went out- after all we were stuck here at the school. Plus Soho was on the other side of London- there was no way to reach it without a car.

"What are you talking about? We can't even leave the school."

She shakes her head. "No Susan, we're not allowed to leave the school. We are however, able to sneak out."

I pass by her and sit down on my bed. "Look, I don't like this idea. I mean, okay, so sneaking out might not be that hard, but what then? We walk all the way to Soho? Besides, auditions are on Monday, I really can't go out now."

She walks over to me and drops to her knees in front of me, taking my hands from my lap and holding them. "First of all, I arranged a cab. Second of all, what better time is there to go and sneak out? We never did it before, and if this whole thing with the auditions comes through for either of us... Well, it would be our last chance to do something like this." She looks up at me with big eyes, her pink lips turning into a pout. I push down the feelings that bubble up in my chest as she looks at me like that. I look away at the white, puffy pillow on my bed. Trying my best not to give in to the girl kneeling in front of me. "Please?" She almost whimpers. "Pretty, pretty, pretty please? My dear, sweet, beautiful Susan."

I sigh and throw back my head. "Fine, but-" Before I even get to finish that sentence she jumps up at me, wrapping her hands around me. I fall back in the bed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She bursts out, lying on top of me. She sits up, my hips locked between her thighs, and smiles brightly at me. She claps her hand together in enthusiasm. "You will not regret this Susan, I promise."

I pull up my shoulders against the cold wind that tries to make its way into the neck of my jacket. Raindrops slide down my neck and find their way down my back. Streetlights on the side of the road shine with a warm orange glow, drops of rain glimmering silver in the light before disappearing into the darkness of the night. It isn't raining very hard, but the cold London wind is icy against my skin. I ball my fists in a useless effort to keep my fingers from freezing off. I look at Meredith, her heels click-clacking against the pavement. The green cotton bag, which apparently carries a present for me, sways to her step. The skirt of her blue dress rustles in the wind as we make our way to Club Eleven. I look up at the building, and what a shabby one it is. Dark brown stones make it up the building, and I can already hear Jazz music coming out of the front door.

We enter. It's small and reasonably packed. The scents of beer, cigarettes, sweat, and that scent that old buildings have - like dark wood and stone - are making their way into my nostrils. The music vibrates in my chest. I suddenly feel very small in the crowded club and my hand searches for Meredith's. It finds its destination and warm fingers entwine with my cold ones. She leads me to the bar and orders us a coke.

We stand there sipping our drinks and listening to the music for some time, watching the people there. It might not be a crazy night out for most, but to me, with her, when we are actually supposed to be sleeping in our dorm room, this is exciting. I find myself glancing at her bag now and then, she responds by gripping it tighter in her hand and giving me an excited smile. After some time she decides it's enough and taps me on my shoulder. I follow her out, and when we get outside the rain has stopped.

I look up to find the sky cleared of its angry dark clouds, and stars shining brightly in the sky. When I want to walk over to one of the cabs she grabs my hand to stop me. I turn around to find her holding the green bag up. I can't help but grin. I love presents. It's not even about what I get, simply the excitement of finding out. Besides, I'd love anything she'd give me- simply because it's a present from her. She lets go of my hand and pulls out the mysterious gift from her bag, revealing a dark wooden box. I step closer to get a better look at it. It's carved with thorns, roses, and birds- no not birds, swans. A small silver poker sticks out on the back of the box. She shoves the bag in the pocket of her jacket and twists the poker, then opens the lid. Sweet music box notes sing from the box. A gentle, slightly sad tune. It's the theme of Swan Lake. Emotion swells in my chest at her thoughtful gift, and I push down the emotions, not wanting to start crying over a gift. She turns the box around for me to see. The inside of the lid is covered with red velvet and in the box is a mirror. Two small swans stand on it, and they move over the mirror in a circle. I blink for a moment in amazement, when I realize that there must be a magnet underneath the mirror and inside the swans. It's beautiful- the music, the way the starry sky is reflected on the mirror. I feel my eyes turn warm and I blink furiously fighting away the tears. I look up at her, a wide smile on her face. "It's beautiful... I- How can I even accept this?"

She moves the box a bit closer to me for me to take it. "Come on silly, don't tell me you're not going to accept a gift I spent so much time searching for."

I open my mouth but words fail me. What am I supposed to say to this? 'Thank you' just doesn't seem to cut it. I search in my mind for a moment, but I can't think of anything proper to say, so I just take the box from her. "Thank you so much. It's beautiful"

She grins. "I know it is. And you deserve it. You're a great friend, and you've been working so hard lately. You deserve to have something nice." I just nod and look down at the music box. We stand there watching the swans dance over the star filled lake until the music slowly dies.